Baby girl mauled to death by ‘banned’ dog

Ava-Jayne and her mother, Chloe: the 11-month-old baby died at her mother’s boyfriend’s house on Emily Street, Blackburn

Ava-Jayne Corless was asleep in bed when she was savaged by the pet dog, thought to be a pitbull terrier-type.

The girl’s mother, Chloe King, 20, and her partner, Lee Wright, 26, were held on suspicion of manslaughter, and Lancashire Police said they were both released on bail on Wednesday morning pending further inquiries.

Police said the dog, which was destroyed after the attack, had been identified by experts as a pitbull terrier-type dog which people are banned from owning under section one of the dangerous dogs act 1991. Locals residents told reporters that they had made previous complaints to police about the dog’s behaviour.

Police and ambulance staff had tried to resuscitate Ava-Jayne at the address in Emily Street but she died at Royal Blackburn Hospital a short time later. Ms King and Mr Wright were said to be downstairs when the attack took place, while Ava-Jayne was in a front bedroom.

Read more from FactCheck: the facts on dog attacks

‘Horrific incident’

Speaking after the incident, Chief Superintendent Chris Bithell of Lancashire Police said: “This is an absolutely horrific incident in which a baby girl has lost her life and I would like to take this opportunity to express my own personal sympathy to the wider family of baby Ava.

“As part of the investigation we are making inquiries to see whether there have been previous issues with this particular dog and I think at this moment it would be too early to speculate on that.”

The couple were initially arrested on suspicion of child neglect before they were re-arrested on the more serious offence of manslaughter.

Family liaison officers are offering support to the wider family of Ava-Jayne. The baby’s father, understood to be Dean Corless said he was “devastated” at what had happened.

“She was the most beautiful and adorable little girl, she was just the best. She was my whole world,” he said. “Her mum and I aren’t together anymore, but I saw Ava-Jayne all the time – I only saw her at the weekend.

“But I will miss her every single day, I just don’t know what to do now. It is just so tragic. I have my family around me now, but we are all devastated.”